Synthetic Nostalgia - Zenex

[Tom NJ]

Okay old timers, remember this one? One of the early diester based synthetics, in business from 1973 to 1985. The original brand was Zonex, but "Ex-zon" took exception and paid them to change the name to Zenex.

Did pretty well for a while, but their selling model of cold phone calls to auto parts stores had its limits. They later went public and tried selling franchises, but this too wasn't successful. Finally sold the business to a European distributor and merged the public shell with a medical company.

Tom NJ

 

[Tempest]

Tom, do you think that this oil would really go 25K in 1970-80's engines?

 

[Johnny]

Sure it would. Amsoil and Mobil 1 did.

 

[Pablo]

Did they try to market it via traditional retail OTS stores?

 

[buster]

Interesting. Thanks for sharing.

 

[CompSyn]

Very interesting! Do you know who did the formulating for Zenex?

CompSyn

 

[Tom NJ]

The oil was formulated and manufactured by Hatco.

We did 25,000 mile drains in three test cars on a track (tire mileage accumulation piggyback testing) and it did very well - still in grade and low wear. The reference brand-name mineral oil was out of grade between 5-7k miles. A double Sequence III test passed all parameters and gave 0% viscosity increase.

They marketed by phone to auto parts stores across ther country, but I don't recall that they ever got any major chain shelf space.

Tom NJ

 

[kingrob]

Does anybody but me miss metal cans? I wish some brands still offered them. Totally unnecessary with modern plastic, but missed nonetheless.

 

[CompSyn]

Great trivia. Thanks Tom!

BTW, while we are on this topic of “Synthetic Nostalgia”, what can you tells us about the 1973 Eon E-11 Houston Police Test?

Thanks again,

CompSyn

 

[Tom NJ]

Interesting test. The Houston police car test was sponsored by Pacer Lubricants (President was John Williams who later started Royal Purple with his son Jody). They were rebranding a Hatco diester based 10W-40 SE/CC - in fact it was the same formulation Zenex started with. They had national press coverage watching the progress of the test.

The UOA data after 25,000 no-drain hard-driven hot & dusty police miles was excellent. Had they stopped there, the test would have been a smashing success. Instead, they decided to go for 50,000 OCIs, and began losing engines in the 40,000+ mile range. In essence, not knowing how long it would go they ran it to failure, and hence the headlines were "Synthetic oil fails"! Real shame.

The mode of engine failure was excessive wear, but what wasn't reported was that it was caused by dirt, not the oil. The oil filters were only changed once at 25,000 miles and the silicon results were through the roof. I personally reviewed the UOA data and plotted iron against silicon - drew a beautiful straight 45 degree line.

It was a set back for synthetics. If you run a test to failure, the results will be failure. Took a while to climb out of that hole.

Tom NJ

 

[LargeCarManX2]

I know that most people don't like the MLM of Amsoil...but, I remember Big Al stating something like Amsoil just sat on the shelfs getting dusty until somebody introduced Big Al to MLM...I also believe it was a woman if memory suits me right.

Wonder if Zenex would have made it with MLM?

 

[mechtech2]

TomNJ - You sound like you know your stuff about this particular oil.
What caught my eye is the linear relationship of the iron and silicon [dirt/sand]. This of course would apply to all engines and oils.
The good news is modern synthetic lubes are apparently better than the Zenex.

 

[MolaKule]

Quote:
Does anybody but me miss metal cans?


I too miss the metal can and the accompanying "crunch" sound when using the pour metal spout

. The metal can and the right logo would yield a really shiny and attractive can. In addition, one could remove the roll top and use the can for nuts and bolts. Try that with a plastic bottle.

I do remember the Zenex and used it in our old chevy station wagon with the Buick V6 "shake-a-matic" engine.

That was about the time I went back to the Univ. to study Physical Chemistry. I found pre-req organic chemistry to be more interesting, however.

 

[Drew2000]

Originally Posted By: kingrob
Does anybody but me miss metal cans? I wish some brands still offered them. Totally unnecessary with modern plastic, but missed nonetheless.


When I worked at a Exxon station as a kid, the Uniflo oil was in cardboard cans with metal ends. Took many a bath when over-exuberant dull-spout insertion either ripped a hole through the cardboard, or crushed the can.

 

[addyguy]

Thanks for sharing, Tom. I get a real kick learning about the very, very early days of syn oils, and the 'trials and tribulations' the industry had at the time with these new products.

 

[TallPaul]

I did love the metal cans, but I do not miss all the mess from leakage with those old push in spouts. The best part of the cans is the were more appealing aesthetically and you could stack them.

The plastic bottles are great quick funnels if you cut out the bottom, then instead of cleaning you just toss when done. Also can seal half used plastic bottle.

I remember my dad filling the lawnmower with half a quart, he would punch two holes in the top with a small Phillips screwdriver, fill the crankcase, then run screws into the two holes to keep out the dirt. Can would sit until next spring for another lawn mower oil change.

 

[lexus114]

Originally Posted By: Tom NJ
The oil was formulated and manufactured by Hatco.

We did 25,000 mile drains in three test cars on a track (tire mileage accumulation piggyback testing) and it did very well - still in grade and low wear. The reference brand-name mineral oil was out of grade between 5-7k miles. A double Sequence III test passed all parameters and gave 0% viscosity increase.

They marketed by phone to auto parts stores across ther country, but I don't recall that they ever got any major chain shelf space.

Tom NJ


Hatco? that sounds like a fly by night outfit.

 

[lexus114]

Synthetic oil was originally made for air craft engines,was it not? I think I saw this on the history channel.Reg/dino oil could not hold up what so ever to those engines.

 

[TheGreenPiston]

I think I used this oil back in '75 or '76 in my Celica. A friend of mine was selling it and another friend had used it in his Datsun 510 race car and his engine builder was amazed at how well his crankshaft and bearings looked after 10 or 12 race weekends using this oil. That sold me on it so I put it in my car for the street and used it till I sold the car. In fact the guy I sold it to kept using this oil for another 2 or 3 years. What impressed me about this oil was the cold start properties. Parked the car outside at nite in minus 20 degree temps and the car would fire right up in the morning. Made quite an impression about synthetic oils at the time, I am still using them today.

 

[Pablo]

Originally Posted By: lexus114


Hatco? that sounds like a fly by night outfit.


You are joking, right?